EDITOR’S NOTE: Here’s a fair and thorough piece for anyone trying to decide if joining a travel team is right for their kid (and family). It’s written by a great friend and TBP contributor, Kari Hicks. She definitely knows a thing or two about the travel ball way of life.

It finally happened. Your son approached you and he wants to try out for a travel baseball team. He wants to kick it up a notch. He thinks he’s got what it takes to make the team. Before your child has a try out, though, ask yourselfa few questions. Does he have the desire? Is his skill level there? Is he a good teammate? Do you have time to commit? Can you afford it?

Let’s look at these factors. The first being desire. Does your son show a love for the game? Many travel teams have long seasons (some year round). Pushing your child beyond his desire to play will lead to burnout. My youngest son is nine, and in his third year of travel baseball. He’s competitive and has the drive to learn and challenge himself, so travel ball is a perfect outlet. Coupled with his love for the gameand a desire to compete in general makes it a good choice for us. But not all kids are hardwiredin this manner!

Another consideration is your child’s skill level. And be realistic. Depending on where you live, travel ball iscompetitive (AA, AAA, AAU, and elite organizations are in most major cities). If your child falls in the top half talent pool within his current league, chances are he could do well at some level of travel ball. Any reputablecoach will notice raw talent, even if you son’s mechanics are off kilter! The extra practice that is afforded to travel players will help fine tune whatever needs tweaking!

Let’s chat about time commitment. If you’re already busy with your family or work schedules, you may want to re-evaluate the reality of travel baseball. I live in the Northeast, and although we cannot play outdoors past Halloween (until early April) each year, our travel team practices and playsindoors year round, twice a week, as a minimum. When the season is in full swing, forget about leisurely weekends, planting a garden or hanging out with friends for cookouts. We spend countless hours driving to ball parks for tournaments and games. These types of schedules require 100% support from every family involved with the travel team.

And then there is the expense. Travel baseball is a huge monetary commitment. House ball requires a minimum cost for registration, some fundraising or volunteer requirements, and, of course, your son’s basic equipment. Travel teams typically budget for uniforms, equipment, tournaments, league and umpire feesand other incidentals. This could mean $1,000 or moreper player (depending on the travel program). And this doesn’t include food, gas and lodging.

There is nothing wrong with wanting your son to stay back and play at the rec ball level. But sadly, Little League is becomingclose to non-existent in many towns. You don’t see kids out after school playing the sport at the park, sandlot style, anymore. Travel is where it’s at, I’m told!Sure, travel does offer these players the option of some professional coaching and competitive play. Travel players will log in more hours so they couldlearn fundamentals and solid skills at an earlier age. But keep in mind that travel baseball can also increase the risk of mental burnout. Your son will spend hours each week at the field, batting cage, or an indoor facility. As time passes, take a step back and analyze your son’s behavior about the game. Watch his face as he grabs his ball cap on the way out the door to yet another practice. Is he still in love with the game? Or has it become a chore to get him to go? Sometravelteams are so serious that many kids just aren’t enjoying the game anymore. These travel teams play year round. But think about it, even professional ball players have an off season!

Also ask yourself, is travel baseball really necessary? If your child is young, chances are he will do fine in rec baseball playing with his friends and having more of an open schedule that allows for other sports like football, or soccer. I’ve heard it’s not necessary for kids to compete in travel ball until the age of 12 or 13. Why? As it turns out, many kids drop out of baseball by the age of 14. Is it really cost effective to pay for a travel program if you aren’t certain yourchild is going to be serious about the game as he heads into hishigh school years?And even though you are certain your son is going to be the next Mike Trout, in reality the chances of him playing college baseball are slim. You cannot manufacture a baseball player simply by allowing him to play travel. He can always get faster and throw harder, but talent is talent. He either has it or he doesn’t. I read something recently that stated 75% of youth baseball players won’t make it on a high school team. And of those that do, approximately 5% will find a spot on a college roster.

Baseball should ALWAYS be about having fun, learning life lessons, and making friends. In recent years, travel baseball has evolved into a gigantic money making business. So, a little research can go a long way!Look at various travel leagues where you live. Some parents are under the impression playing travel means you’re paying for professional help, and often that’s not the case. Check out the coach and his credentials (his coaching style, his fundamentals, did he play college or semi-pro baseball, or is he a volunteer helping to coach his son’s team?).Ask friends, fellow ball parents, and co-workers about local teams and their experiences. Absorb this information before you make a decision. But keep in mind that the majority of travel teams are coached by good people with good intentions for your child.

Understand that I’m not against travel ball (remember, my son is in his third year of it). For my child, he needs travel ball. Rec ball was not challenging enough for him. He got bored and frustrated with players around him who didn’t take the game as seriously as he did. However,I’m also taking each season as it goes, watching my son as he plays the game, and trying to gauge if he’s still having as much fun as I believe he should be having. I want to surround him with other kids, families, and coaches who share my philosophy. The moment his outlook changes, our family will reevaluate travel ball!Baseball is just a game. Your son should enjoy it and feel challenged to take it to the next level, yes. But be realistic in the reasons why you want him to play. Bottom line, if your son is good and wants to stick with it, he will be discovered – whether he’s playing travel or Little League!

Related

Angela Weight

Founder and publisher of Travel Ball Parents.com, Angela Weight is still a little shocked to be running one of the most popular youth sports parenting sites on the web. Click the ABOUT US tab to read her story.

6 thoughts on “Is Your Kid Ready to Join a Travel Team? Are You?”

It’s all about the environment. My wife and I are raising a 10 year old grandson, he started baseball a little later than most first touched a ball at 8 and played machine pitch. He is smaller physically in the 30 to 40 % of the growth curves but learned quickly with great natural hand eye coordination. After last season as a 9 year old in little league minors he played on an invitational team and following that a coach asked me if he would be interested in trying out for a startup 10u team for this year. After talking some general kid and baseball stuff with the guy I knew he was worth following up with, soft spoken but knowledgeable and a real interest in the kids. He came out and made the squad and it has been a great experience for him. The coach runs some the best practices I have seen in any sport, keeps it fresh, competitive and interesting always taking the time to teach elements of the game such as fielding and throwing foot work as a group then individually if they need a little more time to master the skill. If someone is dragging the group down in a drill they all run laps together to drive the concept of team. It is a great group of kids, they have been taught the value of all the positions on the field, and playing the game the right way and they all love the road trips with each other. The real beauty of this is not prepping them to play in high school or beyond which won’t happen for most. It is discovering that this particular sport doesn’t care about size, str4ength or speed there is a spot for every body type and if you all work on all the aspects of those positions know and do your job, pick each other up after mistakes, you will succeeed as a team. Those are lessons that will serve them throughout life. Plus it’s better than spending time on xbox.

This is a perfect article and is true in every way. Our son is 10 and loves the game and we always ask him what he wants and it just so happens a former 1st team all american college player and proffesional player from our town started a travel team and he doesnt even have kids. The kids love him, he encourages the kids and doesnt have an ounce of mean in him, but holds the kids accountable. His coaching style and knowledge far outweights a city league coach who 10 times out of 10 is a dad and already has a close circle of other dads and players in a “click”. That all transforms into the board and allstars, your either in the click or not regardless of talent. We got away from all that nonsense.

Were in for a wild ride Im sure as were going to cross mutiple state lines this spring, summer and fall but we simple ask what he wants to do.

I am the Manager of a competitive 12U team in California. Make sure you vet the coaches carefully. It is very important to get as much information as possible. I have coached against some coaches that have very impressive resumes. Former college or pro players. THEY DON’T ALWAYS MAKE THE BEST COACHES! Be careful to not join a team where the coaches are only intrested in taking your money. I don’t have that type of resume. I played HS ball. I’ve coached for 20 years. I have had my current team together for just over 2 years. California is a very competitive baseball state. My team is not hand picked with “elite” players. I do not cut kids, only problem parents. If you are unhappy with your coaches talk to them about it. Don’t be that parent that is constantly complaining in the stands to other parents, or more importantly DO NOT COMPLAIN IN FRONT OF THE KIDS. My team started with a zero rating and are now ranked #2 in the State for USSSA AAA division. This has been accomplished by teaching the kids the basic fundametals of the game. Chose the coach carefully! A great rusume does not always equate to a great coach. Also, don’t have unrealistic views of your child’s abilities. That is the biggest challenge I have with parents. Not every kid is a shortstop, first baseman or pitcher. Be honest with your child and teach him/her that positions and playing time are earned on a travel club. That’s my humble opinion. Good luck and make sure your kid has fun…..

“However, I’m also taking each season as it goes, watching my son as he plays the game, and trying to gauge if he’s still having as much fun as I believe he should be having.” Oh, OK, MOM. It’s all about how you see things. Perfect. Glad to see that some stuff doesn’t change. And once Junior gets benched, I can’t imagine how you’re gonna react because he’s not having fun according to your standards. That sentence alone summed up the entire article. Thanks you. Good Night and try the veal.

A realistic goal for young players is to make their high school team. (Pro and College is great for those who make it, but it is less then 1%) Some areas making the high school team is very difficult. (at the school I coach at we cut over 50% who try out and 99% who make it played travel ball most of their youth careers) At some other schools anyone with even a moderate amount of experience can make the team and some have no cuts at all. The difficulty of making the high school team should shape your travel decision a lot.

Also the level of talent in house leagues makes a big difference as well. In communities such as ours with 5-10 travel ball teams at each age the in house league is so watered down it is hard to get any real competition. I have seen other communities where the in house league has many excellent players.

Finally the weather where you are impacts travel baseball greatly. In California we play and practice year round. My high school senior has only been out of season 2 months since he was three years old.

Your best bet is to find and ask about these things from experienced coaches. The high school is usually a good place to start. Also if at all possible ask coaches who have already been through the age of your child, but who is not currently involved in that age. If people ask me about younger ages I am typically free to give them plenty of advice. If they ask about an age I am currently coaching in, their kids talent and the other people I know and coach with\against will always factor in. If you want unfiltered advice – ask a coach who has no involvement in your age group.

Great article. This is the first year of travel baseball for our 11 year old. We moved out of our local league because he wanted to quit baseball altogether. We sat down after long conversations and discovered he just needed a change, something different. This seemed like a good choice for him rather than just giving up.
Every family situation is different. We don’t expect him to pay play in the MLB. He is a child who at age 11 needs 11 year old life lessons on and off the baseball field.